Heart and Stroke Encyclopedia

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Limited access coronary artery surgery, also referred to as minimally invasive heart surgery, is an alternative to open-chest coronary artery bypass surgery. With limited access coronary artery surgery, small incisions (ports) are made in the chest. Chest arteries or veins from the leg are attached to the heart to bypass the clogged coronary artery or arteries. In some cases the surgeon views these operations on video monitors rather than directly.